I wanted to love it but only just liked it. I agree with what you said particularly about the emotional resonance, all of this is happening but where is the human element?

why is Superman not taking this battle to somewhere with less PEOPLE?

Its like it was so close but not all the way there. I felt like parts were lifted from other super hero films like reference Wolverine? check. Reference Cyclops? check. Reference the squid tentacle from the first Justice League cover? check.

It felt like it was trying to hard to get everything in there without making it organic. I did like that they focused on Kal El rather than the title of Superman, it felt like a smart direction for the film to go in.